JP2007523428A - Integrated destination sales system with ASP-sponsored member interface - Google Patents

Abstract

  Centralized computerized sales system for destination events, including a member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP), to multiple independent service providers who are members of a convention visitor station (CVB) organization Is accessible. Members periodically log into the MUI to censor request information (RFP) for offers from possible event organizations. The MUI includes an electronic form provisional response booking contract (TRBA) made by the member for any service that responds to the RFP accepted by the member. The project service utilization database automatically collaborates with information from TRBA and is accessible only by CVB. The project service utilization database contains information about services from CVB members and is censored by CVB to make responses to RFPs that contact potential destination event organizers.

Description

  The present invention relates to a computerized business management system for booking and coordinating multiple bookings, and in particular, multiple members associated with a destination to better respond to requests for destination event subscriptions. The present invention relates to a computerized system for an integrated destination sales system having an application service provider (ASP) hosted member interface that easily adjusts information to and from members and a method of manufacturing the system.

  Internet-based travel reservation systems that make reservations and plans for individual users are known. For individual users, websites such as Expedia Com and Travelodge Com have the ability to investigate prices, availability and booking status for aircraft, hotel rooms, rental cars and holiday entertainment. For example, US Pat. Nos. 5,309,355 and 5,422,809 describe examples of computerized reservation systems that coordinate reservations among many travel service providers for individual customers. Travel agencies have long used computerized reservation systems such as the ASBRE system to provide similar services. U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,975 provides an example of how the SABRE system adjusts and manages a database for multiple travel outlets in response to customer requests.

  Computerized systems have been improved for service providers for the convenience and service scheduling and management of a given provider. US Pat. Nos. 5,404,291 and 5,909,668, US Publication No. 2002/0120478 A1, provide a management system for managing inventory of hotel rooms and banquet halls for a single facility or agency, for example. Are listed. US Pat. No. 6,389,454 and US Publication Nos. 2003 / 05055A1 and 2003 / 0115085A1 check the status of convenience according to the request of a patient, or various conveniences according to a pack of client information. A management system for a client, for example, having a plurality of conveniences, which automatically makes an appointment is shown.

  Many computerized management systems are designed to help service providers respond to and manage requests from small groups of customers or individual customers. There is a different set of challenges in managing demand for large gatherings from large group, company and organization customers. For example, US Pat. No. 5,634,016 provides a single provider, such as a large hotel or recreation center, in response to a request for a meeting or event application by creating price and room convenience information. The event management system used is shown. The system also creates a meeting room layout and other details 3-D CAD drawings that are planned and designed in connection with hosting the event. US Publication Nos. 2002 / 0046076A1 and 2002 / 0072939A1 show an event management system that uses the Internet and various databases to coordinate planning and booking for events hosted and / or organized by a single service provider. Has been. Other related computerized event management systems also include a management system for hosting multiple virtual conventions online, as described in US Publication No. 2001 / 0014865A1, and also in US Publication No. 2001 / 0156787A1. It includes the Internet-based event plan management system used at Event 411 as the “Prima Planner” ™ planning system for organizing events, planning events and contacting participants as shown.

  All of these management systems for events are operated on the basis of a single provider model, or event management creating a management system for event customers / organizers rather than service providers for events Centralized in the system. Due to the limitations inherent in these existing single provider or single organizer event management systems, they are efficiently used for the next larger class of events represented as “destination events”, the purpose of the present invention. Is limited. Destination events include gatherings, conferences, exhibitions, etc. with 100 or 1,000 attendees, which are organized by the destination and managed individually, often with extended dates and services with different services Made by. The increased size and number of multiple service providers participating in a destination event dramatically increases the complexity of management desired to efficiently host these destination events.

  The overall coordination and hosting of the destination event is often managed by the destination convention visitor station (CVB). CVB is typically a hybrid of several public / individual organizations with the goal of promoting certain destinations for the benefit of both service providers and the general community in this area. A typical destination event sales cycle involves contacting an expected destination event hosted by a CVB sales representative. The overall parameters of the scheduled destination event are communicated between the destination event organizer and the CVB representative, which is generally in the form of a request for request (RFP), convention hall and meeting space, proposed date and time. And schedules of expected number and percentage of hotel rooms, schedules of related local events and attractions, prices and related transport services, meals, rental equipment etc. In order to respond to each RFP, CVB staff will contact the hotel, meeting hall, convention center, etc. individually about the RFP to collect and organize responses, instead of the destination for the destination event for which the CVB was proposed. Create a response to the RFP that outlines what can be proposed. Unlike the situation of pre-setting a proposal from a single service provider, the proposal from CVB is only the first step in a complex multi-partition process in response to RFP.

  If the destination event organizer prefers a predetermined proposal, eg contracts with individual hotels and meeting spaces, it must negotiate with each of the independently acting service providers.

  In the above, a limited number of systems have been described that aim to challenge for management and difficult business execution in connection with creating a computerized management system for processing destination events. To date, all of these systems use a customer-server model. This model requires CVB to purchase, configure, and maintain proprietary server-based software that runs on servers in CVB. The CVB staff enters data collected by telephone, fax and email from a number of service providers into the CVB database for the customer server management system. Examples of these systems include Software Management Inc. Events 3000 (TM), Housing 3000 (TM) and Destination 3000 (TM), EBMS made by Anger Boeck Systems International, Infotrack (TM), Inquiry (TM) made by John Paradeso and Associates ) And Hauzink (TM), and CVB lyses made by Newmarket International.

  Recently, some of these systems have allowed customers to restrict and control access to some of the various databases maintained by the CVB customer server system by third party service providers and destination event planners / customers. It is being promoted to integrate the Internet into the server software.

  An iEMMS system made by Anger Boek Systems International and Software Management Inc. E-CVB (TM) made by is a good example of an effort to integrate the Internet into a conventional CVB client server system. On the other hand, these systems have proposed a standard Internet-based interface for updated contact information and similar published information for various service providers who are members of CVB, but these are additional interfaces that interface to the CVB customer server system. Detailed and extensive order responsiveness can be requested in order to create a functional function.

  A computerized management system for destination events is necessarily extremely complex due to the size and number of parties to coordinate and host destination events, but the destination event computerized management system integrates the Internet The latest trend is that the CVB required by the customer server model needs to be an expert in management software packages to address for maintenance, upgrades and safety, or these for providers of computerized management systems There is a problem that it will continue to cost for the service. Furthermore, there are inherent limitations in the customer server model for such computerized management systems, with various service providers and CVBs represented by CVB to create responses to RFPs from destination event organizers / customers. Both provide a barrier to the most effective use of computerized management systems.

  The present invention is an integrated computerized sales system for destination events. The system has a definite member user interface (MUI) that is hosted by an Application Service Provider (ASP) and that is accessible on the Internet by multiple independent service providers that are members of a Convention Visitor Bureau (CVB) organization. At least two of the CVB organizations to review requests (RFP) from potential destination event organizers that request information to host a given destination event published on the MUI by the CVB organization. Members are logged into the MUI periodically. In the MUI, members of the CVB organization create a temporary response booking agreement (TRBA) electronic form of the MUI for a response service to the RFP. A project service availability database is maintained by the ASP that automatically incorporates information from the TRBA electronic form and is accessible only by the CVB organization. Review the project service utilization database for the given destination event and make a response to the RFP. The response includes information about services from at least two members of the CVB and is contacted by the possible destination event organizers.

  In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an economical web-enabled suite for destination event sales and services, destination marketing and customer management is created. In the present invention, an organization that promotes a destination event with the technical capabilities of a large organization without using a small medium-sized secretariat and an expensive information addition technology department is created. The ASP sponsored software module can be used anytime and anywhere by users in the office, home, or on the street. Logon is easy to log on to the Internet. Organizations can buy individual software modules or whole sweets. The system of the present invention is easy to integrate, simple to use, and ideal for CVB organizations and organizations without the need for dedicated technical staff to manage a complex ownership claimable customer service system Enables destination management. The software module is hosted and enhanced by the ASP server on a regular basis without the need for additional staff to maintain the technology that is part of the CVB organization. In the present invention, software is distributed directly to the user's desktop via the Internet. CVB organizations can use state-of-the-art technology with only a small monthly payment to meet economic needs.

  The Member User Interface (MUI) of the present invention creates many traditional time consuming processes by creating selected members and adds member information on a database maintained by the system used by CVB staff responding to the RFP. Direct and secret access is possible. Hotel, Attractions and Member Contact, Lead, Update, Cancellation and Confirmed Booking are all done automatically, fax and E for individual members to gather the information needed to respond to a given RFP Eliminate the need for email and phone calls.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  A preferred embodiment of a centralized computerized sales system for destination events is described below with reference to FIG. A destination event in the present invention is typically an event of 100 or 1000 participants hosted by a city or city area and is serviced by one or more service providers. Destination events include gatherings, conferences, exhibitions, sports competitions, etc., and there are 100 or 1000 participants. Event schedules are often extended and services are provided by several different vendors. The increase in service providers for destination events has rapidly increased the complexity of management desired to efficiently host these destination events.

  The service provider shown in the present invention is a company, organization, or group, and provides a service as part of a response to a request for proposal (RFP) to a predetermined destination to host a destination event. Service providers include hotels, motels, convention centers, arenas, meeting venues, canteen services, and transportation services.

  The integrated decision selling system 100 of the present invention comprises a number of modules 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126 as shown in FIG. It becomes a part and does not require re-entry of data and guarantees the accuracy of information. The system 100 further incorporates a workflow engine to individually contact many of the CVB team members. The system 100 of the present invention is a software-based omnidirectional management system that manages information and data for processing events and meetings in any region. The features of the system 100 will be described below. This system 100 provides an extensive, fully integrated data management system for CVB staff and members, and is provided by an Usage Service Provider (ASP), an off-site server that is preferably managed by a third party at a remote location. The need for maintenance is minimized.

  Although the system of the present invention can be programmed by one of ordinary skill in the art using a small number of programming languages and database packages, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is the following programmed as Java applets. HTML pages for Active Server Development Language and / or Web-based interface, Active Server Development Language and Microsoft NET software modules function in ASP and interface with SQL database. While the preferred embodiment is one designed as a Microsoft Internet Explorer as a browser, the present invention can also be applied to web-based browsers.

  One embodiment of the system 100 of the present invention is a software module that includes:

Convention Sales 110

  CVB sales staff have full access to data while moving from office, home to data, or over the Internet.

  Members access via the Member User Interface (MUI) 130 without fax or email to lead, update, confirm booking and cancel.

  Controls future space availability for a single convention center or multiple meeting places such as additional convention centers, stadiums, stadiums, etc.

  The convention bureau and full-time hotel sales staff have access to the future convention center space calendar (calendar) with Internet capabilities.

  The database can be searched using standard query features, prior searches or “English Query” and can be combined directly into a label, fax or email list.

Future service utilization calendar 112

  It can be combined with the convention sales module 110 or can be an application unique to each other.

  For example, future hotel listings reflect recent limited and provisional group room blocks established for association, corporate, and leisure group businesses. The program automatically subtracts limited room blocks from the hotel's maximum group capacity, resulting in a total number of group rooms available for future use at the destination. Similar future usage calendars are created separately for other services, such as transportation services and banquet services, and future service usage calendars can be selectively combined, overlayed and differently colored, Different services for destinations and dates are provided in a predetermined view of the calendar.

  The CVB sales staff will individually access all hotels while turning off endless phone and email communications to the hotel sales staff in order to continually determine usage.

  Designated hotel sales staff access the available rooms for their hotel and the entire room available at the destination and make valuable information for the house group business schedule in a short period and maximum efficiency.

Convention Service 114

  For example, conventional paper systems commonly used for services such as registration, welcome programs, field visits and preparation / spreading are omitted.

  Interface directly to the Convention Sales Module 110 to access the most accurate contact information and event history.

  Follow the timeline, investigate and plan the service.

  It interfaces to the membership module 122 and records all of the member's meals and the reservations for tourist attractions during the convention through the reservation desk.

  For the final selection (pick-up), create a complete history of hotel room occupancy from the beginning of sales within the contracted room block.

Registration 116 / Housing 118

  It can be combined with the convention service module 114 or it can act as a separate application for the convention bureau, hotel, association or company.

  Create a one-step Internet registration / housing that eliminates duplication of input data.

  Combine the housing process while harmonizing the hotel in the room block with the campus and dormitory.

  Discuss with experts to increase management capabilities to control the representative housing inside and outside the public room block. Hotels can be prepared for in-room meetings and as conference rooms, improving customer service and eliminating the need to file and retain traditional booking cards.

  Have the convention bureau have different housing systems for groups so that prices can be adjusted and staged.

Tourism 120

  Allows direct access to appointed hotels, attractions and other member businesses, direct access to updates, confirmation bookings and cancellations, eliminating the need to fax or email them.

  Convention Secretariat The module will be connected to the website to provide individual customers with an up-to-date list of national and international tours and packages, and to be able to sell and link directly to the preferred travel agency.

  Capture and manage all visitor questions for future promotions and accurately target destinations and member hotels.

Membership 122

  Create bills, track payments and customer order product reports quickly and easily.

  Quickly gather and generate information for online and offline publication.

  Combine and track billing cycles, payments, event participation and previous sponsorships to adjust for member accounts.

  Control member access to change contact information and company articles.

  Create multiple types of member correspondence, including email blasting, fax distribution, and letters for all members or membership special category classification break down.

124 in kind

  Create a request for in-kind services to be created by members to take advantage of sales processes such as free hotel rooms, meals, and transportation to convention organizers visiting destinations.

  Track in-service use related to guidance and confirmation booking.

Contact manager 126

  It has a contact database entry that is tagged by any of the many modules in this system.

  Ability to consolidate contact management programs available from inventory.

Member User 130

  Ensure that the website interfaces to logins and passwords for designated users of a given member.

Web Service API 132,134

  Public access to the website application program interface (API).

  Information is openly disclosed to members (132).

  The information from the tourism business module 120 is publicly disclosed in the tour package for the destination registered in this system.

Central user and customer management 140

  Provides management tools for ASPs that operate outside of the modules provided to CVB and its members.

  Create wrapper / manager programs for ASP to maintain and upgrade various software modules.

  The ASP host system 100 is preferably designed so that past event data can be collected in the future after a destination event occurs so that customers can track past business relationships and prices. The system 100 stores all relevant data in one place and makes it accessible to all people in the meeting / event organization. The system 100 is fully integrated, storing automation data and data entered from all sources and integrated data in one accessible application. The availability and usefulness of the stored data is that it can be easily retrieved from anywhere at any time, allowing the CVB sales organization to respond to the RFP more efficiently.

  One of the preferred features of the present invention is that it provides powerful functionality not available with other customer server-based destination management software packages.

  The hotel room utilization calendar version of the future service utilization calendar 112 is unprecedented visible and provides instant access to urban hotel room utilization. In addition, for all future data, we will create a snapshot of individual hotel room utilization rates in line with an overview of all room utilization rates throughout the city. This picture saves the CVB sales staff from making many phone calls, or saves time waiting for a response from the hotel community at the beginning of the most favorable data selection for future business. The hotel room utilization calendar is combined with the latest confirmed and provisional room results held by the association, company and leisure group business, and the confirmed room block is deducted from the hotel largest group, Shows the total group rooms that can be used during the day. Since CVB staff will have access to all price and utilization details for each hotel member, the hotel will have future pressure on a better position in the house group business to maximize room utilization. You will be encouraged to use actual up-to-date data showing. CVB staff responds more effectively to RFPs from destination event organizers to meet the need for destination events in order to efficiently coordinate confidential access and highly reliable pre-saleable information. Try to draw a more accurate and confident overall picture to match.

  One embodiment of the system 100 includes a venue calendar as part of the MUI 130 that adds main venue availability to the occupied room flow information for the confirmed event. In addition, tracking post venue information can be part of the MUI 130 for historical data collection purposes.

  In other embodiments, a quick answer can be provided to ask members, customers or CVB sales staff through a series of simple questions on the MUI 130 and the organizer or tour customer web pages 132,134. The answer to this question is compared with the information maintained in the future utilization database, and it is quickly determined whether or not the event is an area to which the event is adapted for a given data or a given price range.

  FIG. 2 shows the overall process / contact flow diagram of the present invention. The destination event organization (shown at 202) contacts the RFP for hosting future destination events and the CVB sales staff (shown at 204). These contacts are made by future contact channels including connections that are not in the system 100. One embodiment of the system 100 uses an organization API 132 having an online web form that can be used to help gather relevant information for the RFP. The CVB sales staff 204 then contacts the hotel and other members (shown at 206), as well as a convention service (shown at 208) for leads, updates, confirmed bookings and cancellations (described below). Preferably, these contacts are made via membership module 122 and MUI 130. A convention service module 208 (convention hall, stadium, sports venue) provider may use the convention service module 114 to contact the hotel and other members 206 for confirmed meetings and service notifications. Both the destination event organization (shown at 210) and the destination event representative (shown at 212), as well as the hotel 206, harmonize with individual registration and housing matter through the registration module 116 and housing module 118.

  A preferred embodiment of the system 100 is described in detail below in connection with a series of screenshots that represent how the ASP host module is viewed and used by various users. The organization of the ASP modules and what is related to the SQL database that supports these ASP modules will be clarified with reference to SQL and the attached list 1-4. FIG. 30 is a data diagram for the MUI interface 130. FIG. 31 is a data diagram for the membership module 122. 32A-32C are data diagrams for the tourism business module. 33A and 33B are data diagrams for the sales module 110. FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a screenshot of the initial logon screen for MUI 130. The MUI is a reserved web page. In this embodiment, the username and password are used for security, but other secure access techniques may be used. FIG. 4 is a screen shot of the first page of MUI 130 showing user pushbuttons for lead, provisional response / resource / room block agreement (TRBA), confirmation, update and cancellation. FIG. 5 is a tree-view version of the MUI 130 shown in FIG. 4 that allows global navigation along the left side of the window.

  6A-6E are drill-down versions showing screenshots of the screen display when the associated push button on the navigation page is activated. FIG. 6A shows a drill-down of the lead option of FIG. 5 in which potential leads for the destination event organization are listed. The icon on the left of the window indicates the presence of a note page and / or RFP associated with a given lead. FIG. 6B shows a drill-down of the TRBA option of FIG. The total number of peak room nights requested for a given RFP is shown in the list. Further, for example, the final deadline of the response by the hotel member is a deadline used in TRBA as described later. FIG. 6C shows a drill-down version of the confirm option of FIG. These lists show future firm events, which can find the process and firm commit of individual contracts between the destination event organizer and a given hotel member. FIG. 6D is a drill-down version of the update option of FIG. 5 showing changing the initial requirements in the RFP for a given destination event. FIG. 6E is a drill-down version of the cancel option of FIG. 5 showing the destination event where the response to the RFP was canceled or rejected.

  FIG. 7A is a question page for the convention calendar page. An appointed member user or CVB staff can enter a date range for viewing at the convention center or other main venue for the destination. FIG. 7B is a convention calendar sample display (assumption, assumption 2, color code reflecting reservation, etc.). For different convention rooms, facilities or venues, a block of the number of contracted or provisional attendance reservations for each room or venue can be shown along the left column.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the member management page. The contact and login information maintained by CVB for each member, as well as related information, can be displayed and updated on this page. FIG. 9 is an example of an audit trail page used by CVB staff to record changes made by both CVB staff and members.

  10A and 10B show a series of screenshots of the TRBA (assumed asset / response / room booking agreement) form accessible from the screen in FIG. 6B. In this embodiment, the TRBA form includes an automatic calculation area where, for example, the number of rooms based on the percentage of available rooms in a given hotel can be automatically entered. The TRBA form allows to quote a different rack rate from the convention rate and also allows the member to specify whether the TRBA has retained the room or what options or conditions have been quoted.

  FIG. 11A shows a screen shot of a detailed view of the lead pushbutton of FIG. 6A. This page contains information that is preferably edited as a world document by CVB sales staff or members. FIG. 11B is a screen shot of a lead assignment page for assigning responsibilities for a given lead within a service provider member.

  FIG. 12 is a screen shot of the confirmation page of FIG. 6C. This information is not only the details of the response that is accepted for the RFP, but also additional information that has been endorsed by the destination event organizer for confirmation booking. FIG. 13 is a screen shot of the update page of FIG. 6D. Using the update page may eliminate the need for CVB sales staff to constantly contact member organizations by email or telephone about event changes for a given destination event RFD. FIG. 14 is a screen shot of the cancel page of FIG. 6E.

  FIG. 15 is a screen shot of a future service product catalog calendar login. As with MUI 130, this interface is preferably a screen login interface. FIG. 16A is a navigation screen for a future service product inventory calendar. A navigation push button is shown in the navigation bar at the top left of the screen. FIG. 16B is a screen shot of contacts and associated information for members. FIG. 16C is a screenshot of the hotel information navigation used by the CVB administrator, for example, to see the calendar utilization for the selected hotel. FIG. 16D is a screenshot of the hotel information calendar view selected by the administrator from FIG. 16C. The total number of tentative and confirmed available rooms is shown for each hotel along the bottom of the window for the calendar range selected by the administrator / CVB sales staff. FIG. 16F is a screenshot of the calendar view of the hotel information selected by the hotel member from FIG. 16E. In this example, only a single hotel is shown that can be used for a given hotel member user. If a hotel member user is responsible for, for example, a plurality of commonly owned hotels in a destination, the hotel member user can select one or more of these hotels. Unlike FIG. 16D, hotel members only see information for a given hotel at the bottom of the screen.

  FIG. 17 is a screenshot of a combined TRBA navigation screen for CVB sales staff. This screen shows the combined TRBA form results submitted, for example, by various hotel members, for each of the hypothetical / deterministic destination events tracked by the CVB sales staff to date.

  18A and 18B are screenshots of change requests for TRBA submitted by hotel members and reviewed by CVB sales staff. This change request includes information from the TRBA form in which additional information explaining the nature of the change request is added. The CVB sales staff determines whether change requests are accepted by a given member and whether they are entered into the TRBA database. FIG. 19 is a screenshot of the occupancy room flow associated with a given RFP for a destination event. The CVB sales staff uses a summary screen to create a response to the RFP for a given destination event. If more hotel members respond with a quote, the CVB sales staff can select a hotel member from this screen and add to the response to the RFP, or more than the total number of rooms requested by the destination event organizer You can create a response that shows a large number of rooms.

  20-24 show details of various push buttons on the top navigation bar of the screen for CVB sales staff. FIG. 20A is a screenshot showing how a lead is created by the CVB sales staff. FIG. 20B is a screenshot of a customer-instruction lead for a CVB sales staff. FIG. 21 is a screenshot of a tab showing the price of CVB to create a response to RFP. In this case, the CVB can add a tracking cost to the billing cost for the member and the cost for the response. FIG. 22 is a screenshot of the update tab for the lead page. FIG. 23 is a screenshot of a booking tab for a lead page. Information added by the CVB sales staff is displayed as part of a page available to members. FIG. 24 is a screenshot of the lost business tab for the lead page.

  FIG. 25 is a screen shot of the main login screen for the CVB staff and a confirmed login screen. Various navigation pushbuttons are shown along the left side of the window. FIG. 26B is a screen shot of the main screen of the convention sales module 110 seen by CVB, listing various leads and organizations by contact. FIG. 26C is a screen shot of the main screen of the convention service module 114 as seen by CVB. FIG. 26D is a screenshot of the main screen of the tourism module 120 as seen by the CVB staff. FIG. 26E is a screen shot of the main screen of the membership module 122 as seen by the CVB staff. FIG. 26F is a screen shot of the main screen of registration module 116 as seen by the CVB staff. FIG. 26G is a screen shot of the main screen of the housing module 118 as seen by the CVB staff. FIG. 26H is a screen shot of the main screen of the contact management module 126 as seen by the CVB staff, with the conversion of existing contact management files being filed in the contact management database 122.

  FIG. 27 shows a summary of the status of a given lead and includes the total dollar price for the destination for the lead.

  28A-28C are screenshots for the inkin module 124. FIG. In this embodiment, the physical module 124 is made as a separation module having a separate physical screen as shown in FIG. 28A. The actual module 124 can be incorporated into the MUI 130. FIG. 28B is a screenshot of a navigation page for a physical module showing the physical gift requested and approved. FIG. 28C is a screenshot of a drill-down for details of the physical in the physical module. Figures 29A and 29B are partial screenshots of an accounting interface for reporting from a physical module. The total amount of donations in kind for a given period is shown at the bottom. This example is provided to illustrate the present invention and is not limited thereto. Other embodiments will be apparent from the claims.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the specific embodiments, it goes without saying that various changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a full block diagram of the software modules and data flow of the ASP host purpose event software system of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an overall process / communication flow diagram of the invention. A screenshot of the initial logon screen. It is the screen shot of the 1st page of MUI. FIG. 4 is a three-view version of FIG. 4 that allows global navigation. 6 is a drill-down version of the lead option of FIG. FIG. 6 is a drill-down version of the TRBA option of FIG. FIG. 6 is a drill-down version of the Defnite option of FIG. 6 is a drill-down version of the update option of FIG. FIG. 6 is a drill-down version of the cancel option of FIG. It is a question page for the convention calendar page. A sample display of the convention calendar. It is an example of a member management page. It is an example of an audit trail page. FIG. 6B is a partial screen shot of example TRBA from FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B is a partial screen shot of example TRBA from FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B is a screen shot of the details of the lead from FIG. 6A. A screen shot of a lead designation page for appointment responsibility for a given lead within a service provider member. FIG. 6C is a screen shot of the defeat page of FIG. 6C. FIG. 6D is a screen shot of the update page of FIG. 6D. FIG. 6E is a screen shot of the cancellation page from FIG. 6E. A screenshot of a future service inventory calendar login. It is a navigation screen for a calendar of future services inventory. Screen shot of contact and related information for members. A screenshot of hotel information navigation for administrators. A screenshot of a calendar view of hotel information selected by a person. A screenshot of hotel information navigation for hotel members. A screenshot of the calendar view of the hotel information selected by the hotel. A screen shot of a combined TRBA navigation screen for CVB sales staff. A partial screenshot of a change request for TRBA submitted by a hot CVB sales staff. A partial screenshot of a change request for TRBA submitted by a hot CVB sales staff. A screen shot of a residence rule flow associated with a given RFP for a destination. Screen shot of how the lead was built by the CVB sales staff. It is a screen shot of a designated cost tab showing the corresponding designated cost of CVB. Screen shot of the update tab for the lead page. A screenshot of the booking tab for the lead page. Screen shot of lost business tab for lead page. A screen shot of the main login screen for CVB staff. Navigation screen shot for CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the Convention Sale module as seen by the CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the convention service module as seen by CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the tourism module seen by the CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen for the membership module as seen by CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the registration module as seen by the CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the housing module as seen by the CVB staff. A screen shot of the main screen of the management module as seen by the CVB staff. Lead tracking screen tab. A screenshot of the login for the physical module. A screen shot of the navigation page for a physical module. A screen shot of a drilldown for details of the physical in the physical module. A partial screenshot of an accounting interface for a report from a physical module. A partial screenshot of an accounting interface for a report from a physical module. FIG. 6 is a data diagram for a MUI interface. FIG. 4 is a data diagram for the membership module. FIG. 6 is a data diagram for a tourism business module. FIG. 6 is a data diagram for a tourism business module. FIG. 6 is a data diagram for a tourism business module. FIG. 6 is a data diagram for a sales module. FIG. 4 is a data diagram for a sales module.

Claims (21)

Receive a request for proposal (RFP) from a destination event organizer requesting information from the Convention Visitor Bureau (CVB) organization in hosting a given destination event,
The CVB organization collects information about the RFP and publishes information related to the RFP electronically to a member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP) and is a member of the CVB organization Have access to multiple independent service providers,
At least two members of the CVB organization periodically log in to the MUI to review the RFP and related information, and the MUI provisional response booking agreement (TRBA) for response services to the RFP that members can preferably use Make an electronic form,
Automatically incorporate information from the TRBA electronic form into a project service utilization database maintained by the ASP and accessible only by the CVB;
The CVB organization reviews the project service utilization database for the RFP for the predetermined destination event, creates a response to the RFP, and the response relates to services from at least two members of the CVB. Contains information, is communicated to the destination event organizer, and if the destination event organizer accepts a response to the RFP for a given destination event, has received the response to the RFP And that the CVB can electronically contact each of at least two members of the CVB that the member can directly enter into a bilateral contract with a destination event organizer for services identified within the TRBA electronic form for a given destination event. For destination events, characterized by continuous notification To create a computerized integrated sales system.   The method of claim 1, wherein updates to information in the RFP created by the event organizer are indicated by CVB to members via the MUI.   The method of claim 1, wherein when the TRBA electronic form is provided by a member, changes to the TRBA electronic form created by the member are made to the project service utilization database only when approved by the CVB.   Request that ASP automatically maintain all information presented by each member via TRBA electronic form and audit trail of all changes approved by CVB against the project service utilization database Item 4. The method according to Item 3.   4. The method of claim 3, wherein the ASP automatically sends an email reminder to the member when the RFP includes a response due date and the TRBA electronic form for the RFP is not presented by the member before the response due date.   CVB organization members include at least two hotel members, TRBA electronic forms for hotel members include usage rates and prices for hotel room blocks according to RFP, and the project service usage database is CVB The method of claim 1 including a projected occupancy room flow for a destination utilized by the tissue to create a response to the RFP.   The method of claim 6, wherein the ASP automatically analyzes the projected occupancy room flow to create a hotel utilization portion of the response to the RFP.   ASP hosts a software module that selectively integrates a portion of the project's service utilization database to display on the MUI a non-confidential report of the future utilization of selected services for the destination by date. The method of claim 1.   The method of claim 1, wherein the ASP hosts a customer web page interface and the destination event organizer submits an RFP for a predetermined destination event via the customer web page interface.   The method of claim 1, wherein a software module for supporting a MUI and a project service utilization database is updated and maintained by an ASP rather than a CVB organization. Hosted by an Application Service Provider (ASP), a member user interface (MUI) accessible to multiple independent service providers who are members of the Convention Visitor Bureau (CVB) organization, and automatically collaborates with information from TRBA electronic forms Consists of a project service utilization database maintained by an ASP that
At least two members of the CVB periodically circulate in the MUI to review request information for a proposal (RFP) from a destination event organizer that requests sponsor information for a given destination event advertised to the MUI by the CVB The MUI includes a provisional response agreement (TRBA) electronic form made by a member of CVB for any service response to an RFP that is preferably available to the member;
The ASP is accessible only by the CVB and is used to create a response to the RFP that contains information about the RFP for a given destination event and service information from at least two members of the CVB contacted to the destination event customer. Centralized computerized sales system for destination events, characterized by being reviewed by   When the destination event organizer accepts a response to the RFP, the MUI further includes electronic means for notifying the member and the member for services integrated into the TRBA electronic form for a given destination event. 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a two-way contract can be directly made with a destination event organizer.   12. When a TRBA electronic form is submitted by a member, any changes to the TRBA electronic form created by the member are made to the project service utilization database only when approved by CVB. system.   It further includes all information presented by each member via TRBA electronic form to the project service utilization database and electronic inspection trail maintained by ASP of all changes approved by CVB The system of claim 13.   CVB organization members include at least two hotel members, TRBA electronic form for hotel members includes usage rates and prices for hotel room blocks responding to RFP, The system of claim 11, wherein the CVB organization is utilized to create a response to the RFP, including a projected occupancy room flow for the ground.   16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a software module hosted by an ASP that automatically analyzes the projected occupancy room flow and creates a hotel-usable part in response to the RFP.   A software module hosted by ASP that selectively integrates a portion of the project service utilization database to display a non-tightness report of the future utilization of selected services for a destination by date. The system of claim 11, further comprising:   12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a customer web page interface hosted by an ASP used by the destination event organizer to submit an RFP for a predetermined destination event. A member user interface (MUI) hosted by an application service provider (ASP) and accessible to multiple independent service providers that are members of a Convention Visitor Bureau (CVB) organization;
Convention sales module accessible to CVB members,
A convention service module accessible to at least one selected member of the CVB;
A membership module with access to at least CVB;
Consists of a project service utilization database,
The database includes a first part having information provided by a member accessible only by CVB and a second part accessible by a predetermined member of CVB, and further projected with information for the predetermined member Centralized computerized sales system for destination events, characterized by containing only non-tight information for service utilization.   20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a physical service module accessible to members of the CVB, wherein the physical service module includes an interaction web page that allows tracking of the value and utilization of physical services presented by the member.   20. The system of claim 19, wherein the MUI, convention sales module, convention service module, membership module, and project service utilization database are hosted by an application service provider (ASP).

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